@amylicence.bsky.social Hello. I cited from your book, "Red Roses: Blanche of Gaunt to Margaret Beaufort" for an article on my blog. One of my readers brought up a question.
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On p263, talking about the Battle of Wakefield, you said “All three were killed in the fighting that followed, or fleeing in its aftermath, and their heads were placed upon Micklegate Bar in York, the duke’s topped by a paper crown."
My reader cited a few different contemporary sources, and none of them say that it was Micklegate Bar in particular. "and there set vpon the gatys" [Fabyan], "oner the gate of the citie of Yorke" [Hall], "and their heads were placed on various parts of York" [William of Worcester].
I’m afraid l was writing this 10 years ago so don’t have my notes or sources to hand. Micklegate bar was the largest of all York’s gates, double the usual height; it was also the main ceremonial entrance to the city, which Henry Vll used in 1486, and was considered of royal significance, with 1/2
…heraldic and royal shields on. It would have been a good choice for 2 reasons: height, size and frequency of use displayed the heads better, plus the royal associations would have mocked York’s claim to the throne. That’s what l can remember from the top of my head. Currently working in C20th!
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